Quick Answer
The answer is a NAT Gateway, because it enables EC2 instances in a private subnet to initiate outbound connections to the internet for tasks like software updates while preventing the internet from initiating inbound connections to those instances. A NAT Gateway works by translating the private IP addresses of the instances to the gateway’s own Elastic IP address, allowing traffic to egress through a route table entry pointing to the gateway, which then forwards the traffic to an Internet Gateway for the actual internet path. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of VPC networking fundamentals, specifically the distinction between public and private subnet connectivity. A common trap is confusing a NAT Gateway with an Internet Gateway—remember that an Internet Gateway is attached to a VPC and used only for public subnets, while a NAT Gateway sits in a public subnet to serve private subnets. For a quick memory tip: think “NAT for outbound, IGW for inbound.”
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of networking and content delivery. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A SysOps Administrator needs to allow an EC2 instance in a private subnet to access the internet for software updates. Which AWS service should be used?
VPN Connection
Why wrong: Incorrect because VPN connects to on-premises networks, not the internet.
NAT Gateway
Correct because a NAT Gateway enables outbound internet access for private subnets.
Internet Gateway
Why wrong: Incorrect because an Internet Gateway is used for public subnets, not private.
VPC Peering
Why wrong: Incorrect because VPC Peering connects VPCs, not to the internet.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
NAT Gateway
Option B is correct because a NAT Gateway allows instances in private subnets to access the internet. Option A is wrong because an Internet Gateway is for public subnets. Option C is wrong because a VPC Peering connection does not provide internet access. Option D is wrong because a VPN connection is for on-premises connectivity.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
VPN Connection
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because VPN connects to on-premises networks, not the internet.
NAT Gateway
Internet Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because an Internet Gateway is used for public subnets, not private.
VPC Peering
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because VPC Peering connects VPCs, not to the internet.
Common exam traps
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SOA-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
The correct answer is: NAT Gateway — Option B is correct because a NAT Gateway allows instances in private subnets to access the internet. Option A is wrong because an Internet Gateway is for public subnets. Option C is wrong because a VPC Peering connection does not provide internet access. Option D is wrong because a VPN connection is for on-premises connectivity.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SOA-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SOA-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SOA-C02 exam.
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